Composite cover-support for cassettes and books

ABSTRACT

A composite cover-support for tape cassettes and books, comprises a cover assembly, similar to the covers of a book, and, joined to this assembly, at least one receptacle for at least one tape cassette and at least one means of fixation for at least one book, these elements being arranged in such a manner that, when said cover assembly is folded up upon itself, the cassette and the book lie adjacent each other, occupy substantially the total space between the cover members and are coplanar, with the cassette being held in position within the cover assembly by an edge of the book or by an edge of the support means for the book within the cover assembly.

United States Patent [191 Willieme Aug. 13, 1974 1 COMPOSITECOVER-SUPPORT FOR CASSETTES AND BOOKS [21] Appl. No.: 326,410

[30] Ijoreign Application Priority Data Oct. 11, 1 212 Belgium ..789915[52] US. Cl. 281/31, 35/8 A [51] Int. Cl B42d 3/18 [58] Field of Search35/8 A, 35 E; 281/31; 206/DIG. 36

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,654 7/1875 Arms 281/311,023,466 4/1912 Gareis..... 281/31 1,193,181 8/1916 Peck ..281/312,694,264 11/1954 Seaton 35/35 E 3,352,027 11/1967 Schwartz 35/8 A3,583,729 6/1971 De Groot 281/31 3,658,365 4/1972 Greubel 281/31 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,208 1914 Great Britain .1 281/31 681,97310/1939 Germany 281/31 759,024 11/1933 France 35/35 E PrimaryExaminew-Wm. H. Grieb Attorney, Agent, or FirmBacon & Thomas 5 7ABSTRACT A composite cover-support for tape cassettes and books,comprises a cover assembly, similar to the covers of a book, and, joinedto this assembly, at least one receptacle for at least one tape cassetteand at least one means of fixation for at least one book, these elementsbeing arranged in such a manner that, when said cover assembly is foldedup upon itself, the cassette and the book lie adjacent. each other,occupy substantially the total space between the cover members and arecoplanar, with the cassette being held in position within the coverassembly by an edge of the book or by an edge of the support means forthe book within the cover assembly.

12 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.829.132

SHEET 5 (IF 6 g 16 {3 5 [1 f I L. L-ILM LAN- L-M4- PATENTED 319743.829.132

sum 6 OF 6 COMPOSITE COVER-SUPPORT FOR CASSETTES AND BOOKS Thisinvention concerns a composite cover-support for cassettes and printedmatter, generally in the form of a book. By cassettes is meant anyrelatively rigid package and/or cartridge containing a sound and/orvisual recording on tape or film. By printed matter is meant sheaveswhich may be printed or receive visible information such as by printing,bound or unbound, generally but not exclusively in the form of a book.

In the preferred embodiment of said composite cover-support, thereexistsa relation between the subject of the cassette recording and the text ordrawings on said printed matter.

The aims of the invention are multiple: to ,favorize the development ofgeneral culture by associating reading with audio and/or visual media;to promote a new way of selling books and cassettes; to introduce intocommerce a safety cover-support, notably for cassettes; and to create amixed form of library of a new kind.

To achieve these aims, the composite coversupport according to theinvention includes cover members, similar to a book cover, and integralwith these covers, at least one supporting means for at least onecassette and at least one supporting means for at least one sheaf orbook, these elements being disposed in such a mutual relationship that,when said cover support is folded up upon itself, the cassette and sheafor book connected thereto are juxtaposed, the whole presenting acompact, resistant, comfortable form of great protection for thecassette and sheaf or book.

The supporting means, respectively for the cassette and for the sheaf orbook, are essentially variable and it is necessary only that they permitaccessibility to said cassette and optionally to said sheaf or book sothat these can be conveniently and rapidly withdrawn from and replacedin the common support when the cover members are in the open, unfoldedposition.

As to the common support and the relative position thereon of saidsupporting means, respectively for the cassette and for the sheaf orbook, they shall be'such as-to obtain the free space(s) necessary'topermit the juxtaposition, respectively, of the cassette and of the sheafor book, in the closed position of the coversupport.

The relative position between the cassette and the sheaf or the book isessentially variable.

Complementary closing means can be provided for the cassette supportingmeans and/or for the sheaf or book supporting means and/or for thecommon sup- Ol't.

P By reason of the juxtaposition of the cassette and of the sheaf orbook, an important advantage is obtained in that the cassette,immobilized onto the support by its supporting means such as a sheath orpocket, is automatically protected against extraction on account of theabutment effect of the sheaf or book. In certain embodiments thisprotective measure may also be applied to the sheaf or book,respectively to the cassette and to the sheaf or book simultaneously.

In one particular embodiment, the cover-support comprises, on one hand,at least one receptacle or supporting means for at least one cassetteand, on the other hand, a book directly and permanently affixed to saidcover-support, the arrangement being such that access to the cassettewith a view to extracting the latter is permitted only when thecover-support is sufficiently open so that the aforesaid abutment effectof the sheave or book ceases to exist.

In function of the kind of cassette and sheaf or book to be associatedwith said cover-support, the latter can be executed in essentiallyvariable materials and at essentially variable prices.

By way of examples, some embodiments of the invention are hereinafterdescribed, reference being made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a composite coversupport according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, the cover-support being filled;

FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III of FIG. 2, the compositecover-support being represented entirely open;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, the composite cover-supportbeing shown in. fully closed position;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front and side views respectively of a first modifiedembodiment of a composite coversupport according to the invention, inopen position;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are front and side views, respectively of a secondembodiment of a composite cover-support according to the invention, inopen position;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a third embodiment of a compositecover-support according to the invention, in open position;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sections, respectively, along lines XX and XIXI ofFIG. 9;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are front and side views, respectively of a fourthembodiment of a cover-support according to the invention, in openposition;

FIG. 14 is a front view ofa fifth embodiment in open position;

FIG. 15 represents a front view of a sixth embodiment in open position;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are front and side views, respectively of a seventhembodiment in open position;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are front and side views, respectively of an eighthembodiment in open position;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are front and side views respectively of a ninthembodiment of the invention, in open position;

FIG. 22 is a front view of a tenth embodimen' t in open position;

FIG. 23 shows a section along line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 represents a partial perspective view of the compositecover-support according to FIGS. 22 and 23;

FIG. 25 shows, in a profile view and in open position, a compositecover-support with loose-leaf pages.

In all these embodiments, the composite coversupport according to theinvention includes the combination of a general folding cover 1comprising a pair of cover members 1alb, at least one supporting orsecuring means 2 for at least one cassette and a supporting or securingmeans 3 for a sheaf of printed material, generally a book.

In all the embodiments of the invention, said supporting means 2-3 areproportioned so as to leave, inside the cover 1, zones which areunoccupied in the open position of the cover-support but substantiallyentirely occupied in the closed or folded position of said coversupport.

In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, a supporting means 2 is represented fora cassette 4 and a supporting means 3 for a book 5. In this embodiment,said supporting means 2 is adjacent to the spine or folding hinge area 6of the support, while the supporint means 3 is adjacent to one of thefree edges 7 of said support 1. That is, with the cover in the closedposition, the cartridge receptacle 2 and book lie adjacent each other ina coplanar relationship and both substantially fill the space betweenthe covers.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, the neutral zone adjacent tothecassette support 2 presents a width Ll substantially equal to thewidth L2 of the book support 3, while the free zone 1 adjacent to saidbook support 3 presents a width L3 substantially equal to the width L4of the cassette support 2.

Thus, by closing the cover-support in the manner of a book, a compactenvelopment is obtained such as is schematically shown in cross-sectionin FIG. 4.

The cover-support can be completed by means of any type of fastener,as'schematized in 8. The width L5 of the spine 6 is substantially equalto the thickness L6, L7 respectively, of supports 2-3. A certaintolerance is naturally authorized between said thickness L5 on one handand L6 and L7 on the other hand. If these differences exceed the limitof tolerance, it will be always possible to interpolate or add anadditional thickness in theconfection of one of said supports 2 or 3.

The mutual relations between the free zones of the common support 1 andthe dimensions of the supporting means 2-3 can be foreseen in width aswell as in height, and this, in function of the chosen relative positionof the cassette(s) on one hand and the book or similar sheaves on theother, as well as of the number of cassettes and/or books to becontained in a same cover-support. The tape cartridge support orreceptacle 2 includes an opening 2a lying in a plane extending normal tothe plane of cover member 1b and a bottom 2b lying adjacent the foldhinge area 6 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4.

In the different embodiments schematically shown in FIGS. 5 to 25, thesame reference numerals relate to equivalent elements or elements havingequivalent functions.

In the example of FIGS. 5 and 6, the same elements are found as in FIGS.1 to 4, only an inversion has been introduced between the relativeposition of the supporting means 2-3 in relation to the commonsupport 1. Here, the bottom of receptacle 2 is located at or adjacent afree edge 7 of cover 1a and opening 2a is towards the hinge area 6.

In the embodiments described above, an important function is obtained byreason of the placement and orientation of the cartridge receptacle 2and the book 5. The book 5 has an edge 5a which also lies in a planeextending normal to the plane of the respective cover member 1a to whichit is attached. When the cover is folded along fold line or area 6 andthe opening 2a of receptacle 2 lies adjacent to and is blocked by theedge 5a of book 5 so that the tape cartridge is held secure in itsreceptacle when the cover is in the folded position. Likewise, the booksupport 3 has an edge 30 which at least partially blocks the cartridgereceptacle opening 2a when the cover assembly is folded together, forpreventing movement of the cartridge out of its receptacle.

In the example of FIGS. 7 and 8, the supporting means 2-3 have beenfixed in a mutually adjacent position on one of the flaps of the commonsupport 1. The length L8 of the flap of the common support which isunoccupied is equal to L2 L4, the width L5 of the spine 6 beingsubstantially equal to the thickness L6 of said supporting means 2-3.

In the example of FIGS. 9 to 11, the supporting means 2-3 have beendisposed at different levels, providing for cover-supports of lesserwidth. In this case, the supporting means 2 for the cassette, on onehand, and the supporting means 3 for the book on the other hand, aredisposed diagonally with respect to the two flaps of the commonsupport 1. In this embodiment, the width L9 of the supporting means 2 issubstantially equal to the width L10 of the supporting means for thebook. The height H of the common support 1 is equal to H1 H2 whichrepresent the height of the supporting means 2 and 3 respectively. Here,the book is an integral part of the cover and the hinge area 6 comprisesa part of the hinge or back of the book 5. Opening 2a in receptacle 2again abuts edge 50 of book 5 when the cover is closed.

In the example of FIGS. 12 and 13, the supporting means 2-3 are mutuallyadjoining or approximately adjoining on the same flap of the commonsupport 1. It suffices, inthis embodiment, that the width L11 of theraised flap of the common support be equal to L12 L13, that is to say,to the sum of the width of the two supporting means 2-3 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 14, a support 3 for a single book or sheaf iscomplemented by two supports 2, respectively for two cassettes 4.

In such an execution the following conditions must be met: L14 L15; L16L17 and H3 I H4 H5.

Instead of a single supporting means 3 for a single book or sheaf,several such means for a corresponding number of books or sheaves can,obviously be substituted.

The example of FIG. 15, is a variation of the preceding example,according to which the cassettes have been turned by To this end thedifferent supporting means are disposed so that L18 L19 L20 and H6 H7H8.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show an embodiment practically inverse to thatillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. Indeed, the supporting means 2 for cassetteis disposed along the marginal edge of the cover-support while thesupporting means 3 for the sheaf or book is located along the spine 6.In this execution the conditions'L2l L22 and L23 L24 must be met.

According to the example of FIGS. 18 and 19, the supporting means 2 forthe cassette 4 is disposed along the marginal edge of the common support1 while the supporting means for the sheaf or book 5 is affixed alongthe opposite marginal edge of said common support 1. Here, L25 must beequal to L26.

In the example of FIGS. 20 and 21, the supporting means 2 and 3 areaffixed edge to edge on the common support 1 between the two spinalareas 6-6 At each side of said areas 6-6 the common support 1 extends alength L27 L28 and L29 L30, respectively.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 22 to 24 a bellows device has beeninterposed between the common support and each of the supporting meansfor the cassette(s) and/or for the sheaf(ves) or book(s). The purpose ofsuch an arrangement is to facilitatethe withdrawal of the cassette, thesheaf or the book without prejudice to the safe protection of thecassettes, sheaves and/or books, the number of such cassettes, sheavesand/or books associated to the same common support notwithstanding.

Thus, no matter what adjoining disposition is adopted between thesesupporting means, bellows as schematically shown in 9 may be used. Thesebellows can present any suitable shape and'adequate dimensions and canbe executed in any appropriate material.

In the preceding embodiments, described only by way of example, thecommon support 1 has generally been considered as being formed from onecontinuous piece, the intermediate spines or hinge areas 6 (6) permitting its almost instantaneous opening or closing.

However, the common support 1 could be of the loose-leaf type bindertype constituted, for example, by rings, spiral attachment, perforationscooperating with pins or by any of the numerous binding means known perse joining together cover members la, lb along the hinge line area 10.

Such a realization, according to the appropriate choice of said bindingmeans, permits obtaining multiple flap cover-supports. It is pointed outonce more that, if the cassettes must necessarily be lodged inindividual supports, (or in individual divisions of a common support),the books may be directly fixed onto the common support in such a mannerthat said commonsupport can be manipulated like a book, permittingaccess to the cassette or cassettes and permitting reading in the usualway.

The invention concerns the empty cover-support as well as cover-supportcontaining cassettes and sheaves or books.

What I claim is:

l. A cover assembly for a tape cartridge and book comprising:

a. at least a pair of planar cover members joined together along amutual fold hinge area and having inner surfaces;

b. at least one tape cartridge receptacle on the inner surface of one ofsaid cover members and occupying less than the total area of saidsurface, said receptacle having a single opening lying in a planeextending normal to the plane of said cover member;

c. at least one book member supported on the inner surface of the othercover member, said book occupying less than the total area of said othercover inner surface, said book member having an edge extending normal tothe plane of said other cover member;

d. said receptacle opening being adjacent said book member edge andblocked thereby when said cover members are folded together along saidhinge area;

e. said receptacle and book member occupying adjacent coplanar areasbetween said cover members when the latter are in their folded position,whereby a tape cartridge in said receptacle is retained therein by saidbook edge when said cover members are in the folded position.

2. The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein at 3. The coverassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover members havesubstantially equal surface areas; and said receptacle and book memberoccupy substantially the total area between said cover members in theirfolded position.

4. The cover assembly recited! in claim 1, wherein said tape receptaclehas a bottom area located adjacent a free edge of its respective covermember.

5. The cover assembly recited. in claim 1, wherein said book member isremovably secured to its respective cover member.

6. The cover assembly recited in claim 5, further wherein a bookreceptacle is provided for removably securing said book to itsrespective cover, said book receptacle being secured to its respectivecover and having an opening lying in a plane extending normal to saidrespective cover.

7. The cover assembly as recited in claim 1 further including at least asecond cartridge receptacle similar to said one receptacle and locatedon the same inner surface of said cover member as that on which said onereceptacle is located, said first and second receptacles both occupyingless than than the total area of said inner surface on which they arelocated; said second receptacle also having a single opening lying in aplane extending normal to the plane of its respective cover member; thesaid openings of both receptacles being adjacent said book edge andblocked thereby when said cover members are in their folded. position;and said receptacles and book member occupying adjacent areas betweensaid cover members when the latter are in their folded position, wherebytape cartridges in said receptacles are retained therein. by said bookedge when said cover members are in their folded position.

8. The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said fold hinge areais an integral, continuous part of said cover members, and saidcartridge receptacle has a bottom area located adjacent said fold hingearea.

9. The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said book furthermorehas another edge located adjacent said hinge area, said edge extendingsubstantially along the full length of said hinge area.

10. The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said book furthermorehas another edge located at said hinge area and said cover assemblyfurther comprises front and back cover portions of said book, said otheredge of said book comprising its bound edge.

11. A cover assembly as recited in claim 1, further wherein said covermembers have a releasable securing means for selectively holdingsaidcover members in folded position, whereby a tape cartridge in saidreceptacle, said book, and said cover members are all held in relativelyfixed relationship, said securing means being located adjacent to andspanning an edge of said book different from the edge thereof adjacentsaid receptacle opening.

12. A cover assembly for a tape cartridge and book comprising:

a at least a pair of planar cover members joined along a mutual foldhinge area and having inner surfaces;

b at least one tape cartridge receptacle on the inner surface of one ofsaid cover members and occupy ing less than the total area of saidsurface, said receptacle having a single opening lying in a planeextending normal to the plane of said cover member;

are folded together along said hinge area and superimposed one above theother in a folded position;

e said receptacle and support member occupying adjacent coplanar areasbetween said cover members when the latter are in their folded position,whereby a tape cartridge in said receptacle is retained therein by saidsupport edge when said cover members are in the folded position.

1. A cover assembly for a tape cartridge and book comprising: a. atleast a pair of planar cover members joined together along a mutual foldhinge area and having inner surfaces; b. at least one tape cartridgereceptacle on the inner surface of one of said cover members andoccupying less than the total area of said surface, said receptaclehaving a single opening lying in a plane extending normal to the planeof said cover member; c. at least one book member supported on the innersurface of the other cover member, said book occupying less than thetotal area of said other cover inner surface, said book member having anedge extending normal to the plane of said other cover member; d. saidreceptacle opening being adjacent said book member edge and blockedthereby when said cover members are folded together along said hingearea; e. said receptacle and book member occupying adjacent coplanarareas between said cover members when the latter are in their foldedposition, whereby a tape cartridge in said receptacle is retainedtherein by said book edge when said cover members are in the foldedposition.
 2. The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein at leastsaid tape receptacle is asymmetrically located with respect to thecenter of its respective cover inner surface.
 3. The cover assembly asrecited in claim 1, wherein said cover members have substantially equalsurface areas; and said receptacle and book member occupy substantiallythe total area between said cover members in their folded position. 4.The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said tape receptacle hasa bottom area located adjacent a free edge of its respective covermember.
 5. The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said bookmember is removably secured to its respective cover member.
 6. The coverassembly recited in claim 5, further wherein a book receptacle isprovided for removably securing said book to its respective cover, saidbook receptacle being secured to its respective cover and having anopening lying in a plane extending normal to said respective cover. 7.The cover assembly as recited in claim 1 further including at least asecond cartridge receptacle similar to said one receptacle and locatedon the same inner surface of said cover member as that on which said onereceptacle is located, said first and second receptacles both occupyingless than than the total area of said inner surface on which they arelocated; said second receptacle also having a single opening lying in aplane extending normal to the plane of its respective cover member; thesaid openings of both receptacles being adjacent said book edge andblocked thereby when said cover members are in their folded position;and said receptacles and book member occupying adjacent areas betweensaid cover members when the latter are in their folded position, wherebytape cartridges in said receptacles are retained therein by said bookedge when said cover members are in their folded position.
 8. The coverassembly recited in claim 1, wherein said fold hinge area is anintegral, continuous part of said cover members, and said cartridgereceptacle has a bottom area located adjacent said fold hinge area. 9.The cover assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said book furthermore hasanother edge located adjacent said hinge area, said edge extendingsubstantially along the full length of said hinge area.
 10. The coverassembly recited in claim 1, wherein said book furthermore has anotheredge located at said hinge area and said cover assembly furthercomprises front and back cover portions of said book, said other edge ofsaid book comprising its boUnd edge.
 11. A cover assembly as recited inclaim 1, further wherein said cover members have a releasable securingmeans for selectively holding saidcover members in folded position,whereby a tape cartridge in said receptacle, said book, and said covermembers are all held in relatively fixed relationship, said securingmeans being located adjacent to and spanning an edge of said bookdifferent from the edge thereof adjacent said receptacle opening.
 12. Acover assembly for a tape cartridge and book comprising: a at least apair of planar cover members joined along a mutual fold hinge area andhaving inner surfaces; b at least one tape cartridge receptacle on theinner surface of one of said cover members and occupying less than thetotal area of said surface, said receptacle having a single openinglying in a plane extending normal to the plane of said cover member; cat least one book support means on the inner surface of the other covermember, said book support means occupying less than the total area ofits respective cover surface, and having an edge extending normal to theplane of said respective cover surface; d said receptacle opening beingat least partially adjacent said book support means edge and at leastpartially blocked thereby when said cover members are folded togetheralong said hinge area and superimposed one above the other in a foldedposition; e said receptacle and support member occupying adjacentcoplanar areas between said cover members when the latter are in theirfolded position, whereby a tape cartridge in said receptacle is retainedtherein by said support edge when said cover members are in the foldedposition.